Carton, box, or other container or holder



April 12, 1932. J, T. ROBIN CARTON, BOX, OR OTHER CONTAINER OR HOLDERFiled Jan. 2, 1 5 Sheets-Sheet J. T. ROBIN April 12, 1932.

CARTON, -BOX, OR OTHER CONTAINER OR HOLDER Filed Jan. 2, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet 2 April 12, 1932. J; T. ROBJN I l 853;7,4 6 CARTON, Box, OROTHER CONTAINER OR HOLDER Fil -12, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr.12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE JOSEPH THEODORE ROBTN, FSTREATHAM, ENGLAND CARTON, BOX, OR OTHER CONTAINER OR HOLDER Applicationfiled January 2, 1930, Serial No. 418,095, and in Great Britain January7, 1929.

This invention relates to containers for eggs or other articles and hasmore particular but not exclusive reference to cartons of the kindhaving or provided with interiorretaining means for holding the eggs inspaced relation and out of contact with the carton. The chief object ofthe present invention is to provide a container which is of such acharacter that it is especially suitable for use in connection with thepacking of graded eggs, for example at packing stations or other placeswhere the eggs are handled in bulk, so as to provide a package that canbe transported with the eggs held securely and protected against damage,to shopkeepers and retailers who sell the packages ing necessary toremove the eggs, the said package presenting a neat and attractiveappearance and being convenient for a customer to carry.

According to this invention the container comprises retaining means forholding the eggs in spaced relation of such a character 2 as to providea plurality of superposed or spaced supporting or retaining positions orseatings for the upper or larger part of each egg, and a plurality ofsuperposed or spaced supporting positions or seatings for the lower orsmaller part of each egg. The two sets of supporting or retainingpositions or seat ings are spaced from each other so that one set islocated above or on one side of the medial plane of the container whilstthe other set is located below or on the other side of thesaid plane.Although the plurality of supporting or retaining positions or seatingsis provided for the upper part of each egg as well as for the lower partas aforesaid, it does not necessarily follow that the egg willbe-engaged at all these positions, but the provision of the same enables eggs of various sizes "to engage with at least one of thesuperposed retaining seatings at their upper or larger parts and withatleast one of the said seatings at the lower or smaller part, so that anysize or shape of egg can be suported or suspended by the said seatingswithout likelihood of coming into contact 0 with each other or with anypart of the container. Generally the retaining or supportwithout it be 1holes disposed uppermost to receive the lowing means are fitted or heldwithin a carton or exterior casing or covering to retain the eggs asaforesaid but the retaining means may be otherwise held to provide thetwo sets of superposed seatings. For the purpose of this invention I mayprovide a pair of retaining members each of duplex formation to providethe plurality of superposed supporting or retaining positions orseatings. Each retaining member may comprise a pair of superposed orspaced strips of thin flexible material such as cardboard in whichregistering or co-axial holes or apertures of different sizes may beformed. One of these members may be located in the lower part of acarton with the strip having the larger er or smaller part of eacheggwhich projects through the larger hole and into or through the smallerhole in the lower strip. The other retaining member is disposed in theupper part of the carton with the strip having the larger holeslowermost so as to fit over the upper or larger parts of the eggs whichproject through the larger holes and into or through the smaller holesin the upper strip. Theeggs are therefore held between-upper and lowerretaining members which when made separately from the cartons fitclosely in the latter and are held against displacement between thebottom and lid although they are spaced from the latter by distancepieces so that the edges of the registering holes in eachmember providea plurality of supporting 9f retaining seatings at superposed 35positions for the eggs, which are therefore 7 resiliently supported orsuspended in spaced relation and out of contact with any part of thecarton. An egg of any particular grade for example, will, according toits size or shape seat itself against the edges of at least one of theregistering holes in each of the retaining members. The constructionmaybe such that for a given or uniform size of carton a series of differentretaining members 95 may be used to suit various grades of eggs. Thismay be accomplished by providing retaining members having differentdistances between the two strips formed with the registering holes. Thearrangement and disposition of the registering holes in the retainingmembers designed for any particular grade are such that different sizesor shapes of eggs in this particular grade can be adequately supportedby engaging with the edges of at least one of the registering holes ineach duplex retaining member. For example, the eggs may be such thatthey are supported or held by engaging the seatings or edges around thelarger holes in the duplex members, but in other'instances the eggs maybe such that they are held by engaging with the 'seatings or edgesaround the smaller holes, whilst in other cases the eggs may be such asto be held by engaging with the seatings or edges around the largerholes in one duplex member and with the seatings or edges around thesmaller holes in the other duplex member.

' If desired the smaller holes need not be provided as a resilient stripor the like may be provided for engaging with the extremities of theeggs. Although it may be preferred to provide separate retainingmembers, the construction may be such that the retaining members formpart of or are attached to the carton. Instead of using a carton orexterior casing or the like, the two retaining members may be held orsecured together with the eggs between them in any appropriate manner.Although the eggs are usually vertically supported the construction maybe such that they are horizontally disposed between retaining membersthat provide two sets of superposed retaining positions or seatings.

In the construction of carton or exterior casing which may be made byshaping or folding a suitably designed blank,- interlocking end portionsare provided and are covered by end flaps extending from the base orbottom, which flaps are adapted to be folded inwardly over theinterlocked end portions so as to be retained in the closediposition bythe retaining members or one of them when inserted within the carton.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect, the same will now be described more fully withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of one embodiment of the invention illustrating thecarton or exterior casing partly broken away in order to show how theeggs are held and spaced therein.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the retaining or spacing memberswhich are adapted to be inserted in the carton and to hold the eggsbetween them.

Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a longitudinal sectional view and across sectional View of the package shown in Figure 1.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views illustrating how differentsizes or grades of eggs can be packed in a standard or uniform size ofcarton or exterior casing.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing how differentshapes of eggs canbe held between the same pair of retaining or spacing members.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a preferred form of retaining orspacing member.

Figure 10 is a View of a blank used to form the retaining or spacingmember shown in Figure 9.

Figures--11 and 12 are diagrammatic views illustrating other forms ofretaining or spacing members.

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view illustrating a detail hereinafterreferred to.

Figure 14 illustrates a preferred form of the carton or exterior casingpartly opened.

Figure 15 is a view of a blank which is used to form the carton orexterior casing shown in Figure 14;.

A represents the carton or exterior casing which is made of cardboard orany other suitable material. B, B indicate generally the interiorretaining or spacing members that are inserted in the carton or casingthese members being made of fairly thin and flexible cardboard. C, Crepresent the eggs.

The carton A preferably comprises a box or body portion with a hingedlid A as shown in Figure 1. The retaining or spacing members are ofsimilar formation and each comprise a strip B with large apertures B anda parallel strip B with smaller apertures B whose centres are inalignment with the centres of the larger apertures B. The two strips Band B are held in parallel relation by vertical portions B which arenormally at right angles to the strips and project beyond the strips Bas shown. One of these retaining or spacing members is placed in thelower part of the carton audit is of such size as to fit closelytherein, the said member being supported by its projections B resting onthe bottom of the carton as shown in Figure 4, so that the strip B withthe larger apertures B is uppermost and the strip B with the smallerapertures is held away froin' the bottom of the carton as shown. Theeggs G, C are then placed in the aforesaid apertures B so that they canrest on the seatings oredges around these apertures or around theseatings or edges of the smaller apertures B with their ends held awayfrom the bottom of the carton. Another retaining or spacing member isthen placed in the carton in a position so that the strip B having thelarger aperture B is lowermost, these apertures fitting around the upperparts of the eggs whilst the upper extremities of the eggs may projectinto the smaller apertures B as shown in Figures?) and 4. The verticalprojections B of the upper retaining or spacing member are so disposedthat they can be engaged by the carton lid A when this is closed, sothat the strip B of the upper member is held away from the lid, andprevents the upper ends of the eggs from touching the lid. Thus theretaining or spacing members are securely held in position in thecarton. with the eggs spaced apart and held at or between their endswhich are prevented from coming into contact with the bottom and to ofthe carton, as shown. Owing to the fiexibllity of the material of whichthe spacing members aremade, they are capable of being deformed or ofyielding slightly, so that the eggs are re-' siliently held. I y

Various sizes or grades of eggs can be packed in cartons of a given oruniform size by providing retaining or spacing members which althoughhaving apertures B of uniform size and apertures B of uniform size,differ from each other by varying distances between the strips B and thestrips B F igures 5, 6 and 7, illustrate three sizes or grades of eggsin retaining or spacing members designed to receive them, and in theseexamples the dot'and pick lines A and A represent respectively thebottom and the lid of the carton, the height or distance between thebottom and the lid being the same in the different examples as shown. Inthe case of the smallest egg as shown in Figure 5, the

' distance between the two strips B and B of creased as shown in Figure6 whilst for the.

each retaining or spacing member is the greatest and for the next slzeof egg the distance between the strips B and B of each' of the retainingor spacing members is delargest, size the distance between the strips Band B of each of the retaining or spacing members is still furtherdecreased as shown in Figure'7. As the eggs of any grade or size vary inshape they are not all held at the same positions. For instance, someeggs which may be rather short may be supported by engaging only withthe seatings or edges around the larger apertures B as shown by the fulllines in Figure 8, whilst longer eggs may be supported by engaging withthe seatings or edges around the apertures B in the strips B as shown bythe dotted lines in this figure.

The cartons and the retaining or spacing members may be designed toreceive any desired number of eggs and they may be of various shapes. 1The cartons shown are rectangular and are designed to receive six eggsin two rows of three but they may be made to receive say three or moreeggs in a single row. If desired, triangular, circular or other shapesof cartons with correspondingly shaped retaining or spacing members maybe used. J

One construction of retaining or spacing member for receiving six eggsin two rows two sets of small apertures B and it is adapt- V ed to befolded along the' dotted line; B. The

blank is slit or cut at B so that when the parts B and B arefolded atright angles, tabs or projections 'B extend beyond the strips orportions B The ends of the blank are provided with tabs B which areadapted to fit into slits B between the two sets of apertures B when theblank is folded along the several lines B into the position shown inFigure 9. The outer set of tabs or projection B on the blank formcentral'supports when the blank is folded, and the inner set ofprojections B on the blank form the outer or side supports for thefolded blank, whilst the tabs B that project through the slits B retainthe blank in the folded condition shown in Figure 9. The projecting tabsB form gripping pieces by means of which the folded blank forming theretaining or spacing member can be conveniently handled. Various formsof retaining or spacing members having parts similar to the parts B insingle rows of apertures and may be gummed together to provide two ormore rows of apertures. The retaining or spacing member having thegeneral shape and characteristics hereinbefore' described can be made inother ways, for example, an upper strip B having side portions B mayhave secured within its lower part, a strip B with shorter side portions6* as shown in Figure 11, the two side portions being stitched, gummedor otherwise secured together in any appropriate manner. A series ofstrips each containing a single row of apertures may be providedandassembled together in any appropriate way to form retaining or spacingmembers with two or more rows of apertures, but if desired a blank maybe folded to provide a spacing member with two sets of apertures B and Ba shown in Figure 12. If it be desired to imgart additional resiliencyto theupper strip of the spacing member in any of the examples referredto, the blank may be slit or cut adjacent to the large apertures B asindicated for example at B in Figure 13, so that when the blank isfolded these cuts or slits permit of the part adjacent to the edge ofthe aperture B being deformed slightly under pressure as shown in this,so as to render the strip more resilient adjacent to the sides or edgesof the spacing member. In some cases strips B without apertures may beused, such strips merely providing resilient stops against which theends of the eggs projecting through the apertures B may hear. Theapertures B or B ma be of any desired shape. The discs or pieces whichare provided as a result of forming the apertures B may be retained foradvertising purposes. The blanks may be printed at the position of theapertures before the said apertures are formed so that the discs whencut out of the blanks are already printed with the desired matter andcan be inserted in the cartons when the eggs are packed therein.

The preferred construction of carton which is used in conjunction withthe retaining means according to the invention is illustrated in Figures14 and 15. The blank as shown in Figure 16 may be provided with flaps AA which by means of tongues A and slits A are adapted to be interlockedwhen the blank is folded along the dotted lines A. The bottom part ofthe carton is provided with end flaps A, A which can be folded over theother flaps A as indicated in Figure 14, and the free ends of theseflaps A may be retained closely against the interlocked flaps A when thelower retaining or spacing member is inserted in the carton. The cartonlid A may be provided with flaps having ton ues A adapted to fit intoslits A in the end iiaps A and a narrow flap having 'a tongue A isprovided on the front portion a of the box so as to overlap the lid toenable the tongue A to be inserted in the slit A in the lid. Openings Aare provided in the flaps A to facilitate the insertion of the tongues Ainto the slits A The lid A may be retained closed by an adhesive stripthat covers the overlapping flap having the tongue A". By thisconstruction of carton or boX the various edges or corners of the bodyportion are completely closed so that the carton is securely held in therectangular form, and rigidity is imparted thereto by the spacingmembers inserted therein. If desired a tape D may be threaded throughthe slits A of the blank as shown in Figure 15 and its ends tied so thatafter the blank has been shaped to form the carton that part of the tapewhich is outside the bottom of the carton can be displaced so as to forma carrying loop across the top of the lid as indicated by dotted linesin Figures 3 and 4. The front of the carton may be provided with a flapso formed that if it is desired to display the contents of the carton,this flap may be folded downwardly to provide a kind of drop-down front.The cartons and the various forms of interior retaining or spacingmembers herein referred to may be supplied to the egg packers in blankor flat form and they can be readily shaped and assembled when requiredfor use.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis 1. A container for eggs (or other articles) comprising retainingmeans for holding the eggs in spaced relation, of such a character as toprovide a plurality of superposed or spaced supporting or retainingpositions or seatings for the lower or smaller part of each egg, and aplurality of superposed or spaced supporting positions or seatings forthe upper or larger part of each egg.

2. A Container for eggs (or other articles),

comprising a pair of retaining members, each of which is of duplexformation to provide two sets of superposed supporting or retainingpositions or seatings in combination with means for holding the twomembers with the eggs between them so that the eggs can engage with atleast one of the seatings on eachretaining member.

3. A container for eggs (or other articles),

comprising a pair of retaining members,

as in claim 3, in which the two strips of eachretaining member areprovided with registering holes of different diameters so that apossible seating is constituted by the edge of each hole.

5. A container for eggs (or other articles) comprising a carton orexterior casing and retaining members therein which provide a pluralityof superposed or spaced supporting seatings for the lower or smallerpart of each egg and a plurality of superposed or spaced supportingseatings for the upper or larger part of each egg.

6. A container for eggs (or other articles) as in claim 5, in which theretaining members are separate from the carton, in conjunction withmeans for spacing the said members from the bottom and lid of thecarton.

7 A container for eggs (or other articles) as in claim 5, in which theretaining members are separate from the carton and are provided withdistance pieces for spacing the members from the bottom and lid of thecarton.

8. A container for eggs (or other articles) as in claim 3, in which theretaining members are slit adjacent to the holes therein to provideadditional resiliency.

9. For use in combination with a carton or exterior casing, interiorretaining or spacing means that provide a plurality of superposed orspaced seatings for the lower or smaller part of each egg, and aplurality of spaced or superposed seatings for the upper or larger partof each egg, the said interior retaining means being such that they areadapted to receive different sizes or grades of eggs within a carton ofa given or uni-- form size.

10. For use in combination with a carton or exterior casing, interiorretaining or spacing means as in claim 9, in which the distance betweenthe spaced seatings is varied according to the sizeor grade of e g.

11. For. use in a carton or the e; retaining members as in claim 3, eachof which is constructed from a blank provided with the aforesaidapertures, and which is slit to probers as in claim 3, a carton orexterior casing, having interlocking or overlapping end portions thatare covered by flaps which are held in position by the retaining memberswhen placed within the carton.

1 1-. In combination with retaining mom- I bers as in claim 3, a cartonor exterior casing, having interlocking or overlapping end gortions thatare covered by flaps which are eld in position by the retaining memberswhen placed within the carton, the said carton being provided with atape or the like which is threaded through slits in the end flaps toform a carrying loop.

JOSEPH THEODORE ROBIN.

